Patent GB-822312-A (GB)
Title: Data signal sensing means for control of typographical line-composing machines
IPC: B41B27/10
Filed: 1956-12-28
Abstract: 822,312. Type-bar-making machines. DIRKS, G. Dec. 18, 1957 [Dec. 28, 1956], No. 39408/56. Class 100(3) Driving mechanism. Data signal sensing apparatus for the control of typographical line-composing machines comprises a storage medium for data signals, the signals being recorded on the medium in groups each of which represents a character, a signal sensing device co-operating with the storage medium, feeding means operable by an initiating signal to present a group of stored signals to the sensing device, and feeding control means responsive to the sensing of a group of signals by the sensing means to apply an initiating signal to the feeding means after a time delay determined by said sensed signals. Holes 3a in a tape 3 are sensed by brushes in a sensing device, thereby connecting to positive supply 2 one or more of seven leads 4<SP>1</SP>-4<SP>7</SP>, to switch on corresponding ones of bi-stable flip-flops 6<SP>1</SP>-6<SP>7</SP>, and apply potentials through leads 7<SP>1</SP>-7<SP>7</SP> to corresponding sections 8<SP>1</SP>-8<SP>7</SP> of a comparing circuit. A signal on any lead 4 also switches on a flip-flop l0b to operate a gated amplifier 10a and admit a train of pulses from a multi-vibrator 10 to the comparing circuit 8. A character store comprises a drum 15 mounted on a shaft 17 continuously driven by an electric motor 18, and having magnetic inserts 19 in coded positions in axial rows there being a row representing every possible character. The rows are sensed in turn by magnetic sensing heads 14<SP>1</SP>-14<SP>7</SP>, whence signals are passed to amplifiers 16<SP>1</SP>-16<SP>7</SP>, flipflops 13<SP>1</SP>-13<SP>7</SP>, and the comparing circuit 8. The arrangement of the circuit 8 is such that if the same combinations of flipflops 6 and 13 are switched on at the moment a pulse is received from the vibrator 10, i.e. when the row of inserts 19 representing the character sensed in the tape is sensed, a pulse is produced on an output lead 12<SP>1</SP>, thence to flip-flop 10b to switch it off, and to a mono-stable flip-flop 12 to operate it. The flip-flop 12 operates amplifiers 20<SP>1</SP>-20<SP>10</SP>. A code store comprises a drum 23 on the shaft 17 having inserts 22 representing characters in a code suitable for controlling the composing- machine, and rows of inserts equivalent to the same character on the drums 15, 23 being aligned. The inserts 22 are sensed by magnetic heads 21<SP>1</SP>-21<SP>10</SP> which pass signals to the amplifiers 20<SP>1</SP>-20<SP>10</SP>. When the amplifiers are operative due to a signal from the flip-flop 12, output signals pass to the grids of gas triodes 25<SP>1</SP>-25<SP>10</SP> whose anodes are each connected through a capacitor 28 and resistor 59 in parallel, and a solenoid winding 27, to supply terminal 26, actuating armatures 29 in the corresponding code combination to control the machine. The flip-flop 12 also controls amplifiers 31<SP>1</SP>-31<SP>4</SP> receiving inputs from magnetic heads 32<SP>1</SP>-32<SP>4</SP> sensing inserts 34 on a third drum 33, the amplifier output signals setting a binary counter comprising flip-flops 31<SP>1</SP>-36<SP>4</SP> to a value representing the desired time delay for the character sensed. The flip-flop 12 also causes a flipflop 37 to be switched on, controlling a gate 38 receiving signals from a magnetic head 40 sensing inserts 39a in a drum 39. Each pulse from the head 40 now passes to a flip-flop 41, which operates a gate 42 to admit pulses from a multi-vibrator 43 to be fed to the counter to step it until it reaches zero, after a time delay of a length depending on the inserts 34. When the counter reaches zero, it produces a pulse or a lead 46, to switch off the flipflops 37, 41, and ionize a gas triode 48 whose anode is connected via the winding of an electro-magnet 51 and a capacitor 50a and sensitor 50 to a supply terminal 49. The magnet 51 actuates an armature 52 to release an arm 53 on a shaft 54, which is thereupon driven by a motor 56 through a friction clutch 55 to rotate a roller 57 and feed the next code column in the tape into the sensing device. The actual time delays can be varied by adjusting the pulse frequency of the vibrator 43. The inserts may be replaced by signals recorded on a magnetizable surface on the drums, and the perforated tape by a magnetic tape.